Game appliance



Sept. H. o. COSTELLO GAIE APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 30, 1930 Patented Sept.20, 1932 HENRY O. COSTELLO, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ESLAND GAME APPLIANCEApplication filed September 30, 1930. Serial No. 485,454.

This invention relates to an improved game appliance in the form of agolf club which may be more specifically defined as a golf club adaptedfor use for practice, al-

lfl though it may be employed not only in pracplayers totest their skillin hitting an object, such as a golf ball, so as to cause the ball' I tobe trapped by the club.

One object of the present invention is to provide a golf club having atransverse opening formed in the head or having the interior portion ofthe head cutaway to leave a peripheral rim corresponding in outlinesubstantially with the shape of the, head of one of the clubs used inplaying golf but provided with an opening extending through the headinwardly'of said rim of suflicient size to permit the passage of a golfball therethrough. whereby when the club is used for hitting a ball theball will pass through the opening in the club head whenever the swingof the club is made in such amanner that it would meet the ball fairlyif the club were of the regulation type. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ball retaining ortrapping means carried by the club head in such a manner as not tointerfere with the free movement tion of the same with relation to agolf ball and showing the location of the parts as the ball is about tobe struck by the club,

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the head of the club lookingtowards that side which is nearest to the ball as the club is swung intrapping the ball, and,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the head ofthe club and theball retaining means, and an elevational view of the ball, showing theposition of the parts in ad dressing the ball.

v In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith 1 designatesgenerally the i111 prov-ed club which is provided with a shaft 2 havingone end thereof wound with tape as at 4;, to provide a hand grip, andthe opposite end secured in a boss 5 carried by the club head 6.

The club headG comprises a rim 7 which may be of integralconstructionand which may correspond substantially in its external form with theshape of the head of a club commonly used in playing golf. That portionof the club head which is located inwardly of the rim 7 in the usualgolf club head is cut away to form an opening 8 extending through thehead, which opening is preferably of suflicient size to permit the freepassage of a golf ball 9 therethrough when the club is swung in such amanner as to meet the ball fairly with. that portion of the head 6 whichwould be the striking surface of the ordinary golf club head. Theopening 8 formed inthe head 6 maybe of any desired shape but Ipreferably make it to conform roughly with the general contour of theclub head and thus form the rim 7 of substantially uniform radial extentthroughout the major portion of its length. I

A ball retaining or trapping member 10 is secured to the rim? of theclub head for trapping or retaining a ball after it has passed throughthe opening 8 in the club head, and this ball retaining or trappingmember may be formed from leather, fabric or the like and shaped to forman open ended bag,

or may be of mesh construction as shown 9 In the embodiment of theinvention shown herein that portion of the rim 7 which is adapted topass beneath the ball 9 as the ball is struck is beveled slightly asindicated at 12 to facilitate the passage of the ball through theopening 8.

In the present form of the invention, also, the ball trapping or ballretaining member 10 is secured to the rim 7 by forming an internal ledge14: upon that side of the rim 7 which is at the left as seen in Fig. 3,and securing thereto a strip 15, in any suitable manner as by rivets 16.The semi-elliptical strands'17 forming the ball retaining memberhavetheir ends secured to or are formed integral with the strip 15, and thecircular or'elliptical strands 18 extending transversely of the baglikemember 10 and secured to the strands 17 at the points where they crossas by rivets or other suitable fastening means 19.

It is obvious that the ball retaining member 10 may be made in variousways and may be secured to the rim 7 by a variety of means. For example,the member 10 may be made of continuous sheet material, such as leather,

fabric or the like, or may be formed from any suitable metal, fabric,leather, raw hide or other strands interwoven together or secured toeach "other at their crossing points by being knotted together orotherwise attached. The manner of attaching the ball trapping member 10to the rim 7 may also be accomplished in a variety of ways, such, forexample, as by forming an external ledge or flange upon the rim 7 instead of the internal ledge 14 as shown, or by forming a groove inthe'edge of therim7 for receiving portions of the member 10, or

I by providing radial openings'in the rim 7 for the insertion of theends of certain ofthe strandsforming the member 10 or lacing .means forsecuring the member 10 to the rim.

Since I am aware that various changes may, be made in the .form and.arrangement of certain of the parts, a few of which have been enumeratedfor the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that myinvention.

the appended claims are to be broadly'con strued in the light of mydisclosure.

What I claim is 1. An improved golf club for use in prac tice comprisinga head shaped toconform in outline with the shape of a golf club head'and having an opening therein extending transversely of the head, theopening being of sufficient size to permit the passage .of

golf ball therethrough.

2. A practice golf clubhaving a skeleton" head the outline of which isshaped to conform substantially with the shape 'of a golf signature.

club head and having the central portion of the head cut away to providea transverse opening through the head in the direction of movement ofthe club head when swung to strike a golf ball, and means for retainingthe ball in proximity to the head after it has passed through theopening in the club head.

3. An improved game appliance comprising a shaft portion, a head portionof skeleton shape the exterior surface of which conforms substantiallywith that of the head of a golf club but having the interiorthereof cutaway to provide a transverse opening through the head of. the club ofsuflicient size to permit the passage of a golf ball therethrough, and abag like member, the open end of which is secured to the said skeletonhead upon. the side thereof opposite to the direction of movement ofsaid head when employed in trapping a golf ball. 1 i

4.. A: game appliance comprising a shaft, a skeleton head having aportion for attachment to said shaft and provided with a transverseopening extending therethrough, and a ball retaining member providedwith an open end, the open end of said ball retaining member beingsecured to said head in such a manner thatthe open end thereof comcidessubstantially with the opening in said head.

5. A golf club for use in practice, comprising'a shaft, a club headsecured to said shaft and comprising a skeleton portion one side face ofwhich is located substantially in a common plane corresponding tothestriking face of an ordinarygolf club and which is provided with atransverse, opening extending through the golf'club head of sufficientsize to admit a golf ball.'

6. A'practice golf club comprising a shaft, a head secured to the'shaftand provided with an unobstructed opening extending trans verselytherethrough and in a direction at substantially right angles to saidshaft, and means secured to one side. of said club head for retaining agolf .ball passed throughthe transverseopening. v

7. A practice golfclub comprisingashaft, ahead provided with. an angularportion for attachment to said shaft, said head being in the form of anelongated loop one side. of, which is substantially straight .througlrout the major portion of its extent, the angularportion of said headextending outwardly from one of the shorter sides of said loop and in adirection away from the straight side of the elongated loop. 7 r

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my HENRY o. OOSTELLQ.

